In 2017 collective practice They Are Here were commissioned to transform the former car park behind The White House into a community garden. They aimed to create a garden environment that provides a ‘residency’ space for multiple species, mirroring The White House as a residency site for artists and echoing the creation of the Becontree housing estate. A series of structures have been made that house and support the residency of different species (including insects and birds) and robots. Each micro-structure has been designed by a different architect of world-class standing, so the garden evolves into a ‘micro-architecture’ park.

In 2018 they worked with local participants interested in gardening, permaculture and construction. Activity included a mushroom log workshop led by permaculture expert Graham Burnett, concrete poetry authored by The White House Poetry Group and drop-in gardening sessions. This led to They Are Here creating a working design for the garden based on theirs and the community’s ideas, as well as Graham Burnett’s expert advice; resulting in a list of exciting plant species to be grown.

They Are Here held a community consultation workshop that enabled participants to trace over their design; moving, removing or suggesting additional elements.

The garden is now open and it will continue to grow and develop. Come and help us continue to grow this community garden for Dagenham and learn new gardening and carpentry skills (no experience necessary).

For details on upcoming garden events and workshops please check The White House’s events page.

 They Are Here (f.2006) is a collaborative practice steered by Helen Walker & Harun Morrison. They are currently based in London and on the River Lea. Their work can be read as a series of context specific games. The entry, invitation or participation can be as significant as the game’s conditions and structure. Through these games, they seek to create ephemeral systems and temporary, micro-communities that offer an alternate means of engaging with a situation, history or ideology. In parallel, they initiate multi-year socially engaged projects that become generative spaces for further works. They Are Here work across media and types of site, particularly civic spaces. Institutions they have developed or presented work include: CCA Glasgow, Furtherfield, Grand Union, Konsthall C (Stockholm), Southbank Centre, South London Gallery, Studio Voltaire, STUK (Leuven, Belgium) and Tate Modern.

Supported by London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, City Bridge Trust, Greener City Fund, Helen Hamlyn Trust, Arts Council England and Lovell Homes.